Iranian Guards Say Four Tankers Destroyed in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said Wednesday that four oil tankers were destroyed and remained on fire after striking mines while attempting to use a prohibited route south of the Strait of Hormuz. The Guards also said two other vessels had been halted. The claims have not been independently confirmed in the reported accounts. The Guards’ statement, carried by Iranian state television, described the tankers as noncompliant and said they were attempting to pass through the restricted passage. It also said Iranian forces had shot down a drone over the strait. The statement did not identify the vessels or provide details about their crews. The announcement followed a separate statement on Monday by Iran’s Navy, which said one oil tanker caught fire after striking a mine in a restricted area east of the strait. The Navy said the vessel had entered a prohibited zone with its navigation systems switched off. It did not identify the tanker or give information about casualties or the extent of damage. The Monday report and Wednesday announcement concern separate statements by Iranian military bodies. Neither account is independently verified in the reports. The available...